(However Ilana said that MIB can no longer change his face. So Hurley's visions must be actual visions of the dead, if she is to be believed.) * They confirmed that he was Yemi, Alex, etc., but they would never confirm that MIB was Christian Shepard, in fact they strongly suggested that it wasn't. * When they appear they seem to be serving the needs of the MiB, and while it's clearly not the same entity as is currently present in a Locke-shaped body, the MiB can manifest itself as dead people in order to encourage people to do what he wants them to i.e. getting the other candidates to join him. * The MiB has said that all he needs in order to get off the island is the other candidates, and yet he (as Locke) is not particularly active in pursuing them - he is 'waiting for them